by Lucy Hough
FLINT – A meeting on Saturday, May 22, set the stage for a new LGBT group that would focus on female-to-male transgender people. The group, started by Charlie Ford, is hoping to provide resources and a social haven for a group of people that Ford feels is often overlooked in local transgender groups.
Ford intends for this group to be a mid-Michigan chapter of FtM International, an established organization that caters to the various needs to FtM and female-born individuals. Last Saturday's meeting, which took place at the Hollywood Diner in Flint, Mich., acted as a gauge for what people want to focus on in the group.
"It's definitely something that I want to be more of a collaborative venture for everybody involved rather than 'let's do that' from me, because I'm just one person and my ideas are just as valid as everybody else's," Ford said.
Ford hopes that ultimately, the group will provide a place for people to be themselves. He is still talking to people about what they would like to see from the group, and at the next meeting he hopes to organize the groups' goals and objectives.
At the group's first meeting, Ford found that people were overwhelmingly looking for resources on the transition process, including filling out name change documentation, fee waivers if necessary and finding doctors and therapists who can help. Though the majority of those who attended the meeting are from Genesee County, Ford vowed to help all people who attended the meeting.
"If they're out of county, than I am more than willing to find out what their county does and help advocate for them to get their name changed," Ford said.
Meetings will be held the third Friday of every month at 6 p.m., and the location is presently undecided. Those interested in more information about the mid-Michigan group or want to attend the next meeting can contact Ford at 810-845-9734 or e-mail [email protected]. The group can also be found on Facebook by searching for "Mid-Michigan Chapter of FtM International."
